A study of bacteria implicated in transfusion reactions and of bacteria isolated from blood products.

Abstract

Abstract Eighteen severe or fatal reactions induced by bacterially contaminated blood or blood products are recorded. Thirteen cultures from the implicated or an associated product were studied. Eight were of Pseudomonas , none of which were P. aeruginosa , 2, Paracolobactrum aerogenoides , and 3, Escherichia freundii . Eighty-five other cultures isolated from blood products, but not associated with reactions, were also studied. From both plasma and albumin, micrococci predominated; other cultures were gram-negative rods, sporeformers, and diphtheroids. Streptococci came only from plasma. The relative distribution of the cultures from plasma was similar to that reported for cultures isolated from blood. The micrococci from plasma represented a number of species, from albumin they comprised a greater percentage of the total but fewer species were represented. The growth temperature range of all strains associated with reactions and of representative ones from plasma and albumin was determined. All strains associated with reactions and all other gram-negative rods grew at blood-storage temperatures. All pseudomonads grew at the lowest temperatures, some did not grow at 37 °C., the others very poorly. The temperature range for the gram-positive bacteria, as a whole, was higher. A few, however, grew at 10 °C., the upper limit for blood storage. The range in which all cultures grew readily was limited to above 25 °C. and below 30 °C. The importance of nonpathogenic bacteria as the source of contamination of blood and blood products, the use of a proper temperature for the sterility test, and the correct identification of contaminants was discussed.